Site Governance Team By-laws

Revised June 2008

I. Mission Statement
The mission of the Roosevelt Middle School Site Governance Team is to provide students with a quality education in a setting of academic excellence, high professional standards, commitment, and ongoing community involvement. Roosevelt seeks to provide students with a positive, integrated, student-centered transition from elementary school to high school. Finally, Roosevelt seeks to direct, nurture, and encourage students to become literate, thoughtful individuals with positive self-esteem.

II. Purpose
The purpose of the Roosevelt Middle School Site Governance Team (hereafter referred to as SGT) is to foster high student achievement and help set goals, formulate plans, and facilitate staff decision-making concerning instructional programs. The SGT's job is to collaborate and reach consensus regarding staffing and budget matters for the purpose of improving academic performance.

The SGT will ensure that shared decision-making through collaboration and representation at Roosevelt Middle School is an empowering planning and problem-solving process for improving the quality of education for students.

This document is a vehicle to: 1) empower Roosevelt stakeholders who have an interest in improving the quality of education at the school, and 2) make decisions regarding those site issues that have been established herein as within the scope of shared decision-making in San Diego Unified School District.

The shared decision-making procedure shall not discriminate against any person(s) based upon race, creed, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability. It shall apply to all programs within the schools’ services division and all other divisions as appropriate.

This document in no way diminishes the legal authority of School Site Council (SSC) or any other group.

III. Authority
A. The SGT has the authority to create governance bylaws, form fact-finding committees (open to all staff and parents), and address issues and develop proposals that directly affect instructional programs and support students’ academic improvement. Within this scope and the provisions of district policy, collective bargaining agreements, and state law, the SGT has the following power and authority to:

1. Review the site discipline policy and procedures.
2. Review and make recommendations for curriculum and instructional goals for all students.
3. Review and make recommendations for the Master Schedule.
4. Determine the use of discretionary funds within the site budget (except Title I, Motivation and Maintenance Program, and School Based-Coordinated Program funds including the assignment and use of personnel provided by these funds).
5. Appoint and assign responsibilities to an Ad Hoc committee as it deems appropriate.

B. Staff members have the right to:

1. Elect their representatives to the SGT as established in this document.
2. Recall their elected representatives in accordance with provision of these bylaws. A petition must be submitted and signed by a majority of the constituency.
3. Hold a secret ballot vote.
4. Review SGT proposals affecting all staff and the education of children.

C. Students, parents, and community members have the right to:

1. Elect their representatives to the SGT as established in this document.
2. Recall their elected representatives in accordance with provision of these bylaws. A petition must be submitted and signed by a majority of the constituency
3. Hold a secret ballot vote.
4. Review SGT proposals affecting all staff and the education of children.

D. The school principal retains the following rights to:

1. Evaluate and discipline all staff members.
2. Implement programs, policies, and procedures.
3. Exercise such other power and authority that is exclusively delegated to the principal by state law, district policy, and collective bargaining agreements.

IV. SGT Structure and Participants
The SGT will meet on a monthly basis during the regular school year, during the designated committee meeting time. It may occasionally be necessary for the SGT to hold special meetings.
A. The recommended composition of the SGT is:

1. 50% San Diego Education Association (SDEA) unit members (including a site representative)
2. 35% parents and/or community members (including at least three parents)
3. 15% other (including California State Education Association representative and student at the secondary level)
4. One administrator

B. Representation of Departments - One representative will be elected from the following departments:

1. Language Arts
2. Mathematics
3. Social Studies
4. Sixth Grade
5. Science
6. Physical Education
7. English Language Learners
8. San Diego Education Association
9. Special Education
10. Approaches to Learning (ATL)
11. Intervention Classes
12. Counseling
13. Classified Staff
14. 6-to-6 Supervisor
15. Library
16. Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
17. Electives

If a department chooses not to elect a representative, they will lose representation for the duration of that membership term. Representatives will report their department’s concerns and progress at each SGT meeting. If a representative is unable to attend, s/he is responsible for finding an alternate.

C. Representation of Classified Staff - Classified personnel shall elect two representatives.
If a department chooses not to elect a representative, they will lose representation for the duration of that membership term. Representatives will report their department’s concerns and progress at each SGT meeting. If a representative is unable to attend, s/he is responsible for finding an alternate.

D. Representation of Parents/Community Members - Roosevelt parents and community members shall elect representatives. It is recommended that parents represent the following student programs:

1. Gifted and Talented Education
2. Special Education
3. English Language Learners
4. General Education

In view of the diversity of Roosevelt’s student body and in order to further the mission of the SGT, parents and community members are encouraged to elect representatives who reflect the aforementioned diversity.

E. Representation of Students - An Associated Student Body (ASB) representative will serve on the SGT team.

F. Representation of Administration
An administrator shall be a member of the SGT. S/he shall be responsible for reporting on the state of the budget and the master schedule on a regular basis for the purpose of obtaining input from the representative group in an effort to better meet students’ needs. The principal shall facilitate a weekly Administration Team meeting consisting of: principal, vice principals, counselors, and the principal’s secretary. (Many of the issues discussed in these weekly meetings are frequently generated our of the SGT meetings.) The principal shall appoint an administrator to represent the Administration Team at SGT meetings.

V. Election Process and Terms of Office

1. All representatives shall be elected by their constituents using a secret ballot.
2. Representatives shall serve a term of two years.
3. To resign from the SGT, a representative must deliver a letter of resignation to the chairperson.
4. The chairperson may declare a seat vacant upon a member’s resignation or failure to attend three consecutive meetings.

• The affected staff constituents shall hold an election for a new representative at the next department or staff meeting.
• Parents and community members shall hold an election for a new representative in a timely manner
• Student representation will be appointed by the ASB advisor.

VI. Meeting Protocol
A. Meeting structure

1. Eight meetings shall be held on the designated committee meeting day during the school year.
2. Special meetings will be scheduled as needed.
3. All regular and special meetings shall be in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order or in accordance with the adaptation thereof.
4. Meetings shall begin promptly at designated time.
5. Meetings shall be held in the Library Media Center, unless otherwise stated.
6. Meetings are open to all staff, students, parents, and community members.

B. Agendas and agenda requests

1. The agenda for the upcoming meeting will be posted in a prominent area accessible to all stakeholders 72 hours prior to the meeting.
2. Agenda requests are due to the chair no later than five working days prior to the upcoming meeting.
3. The SGT may address a particular issue immediately, or it may delegate the issue to the appropriate personnel (e.g. administration, custodial, counseling, technology, administrator).
4. Issues may be placed on a “parking lot” to be addressed at a future meeting.
5. The chairperson may ask a stakeholder who has not placed an agenda request to address the team for no longer than two minutes.

C. Minutes

1. Minutes will be taken by the SGT secretary or a member appointed as needed.
2. The minutes will be approved by the team at the start of the next meeting.
3. The minutes will be posted in a prominent area accessible to all stakeholders after the approval of the team.

D. Ad Hoc committees

1. Ad Hoc committees will be created as needed.
2. The committee will meet and study the issue or topic at their convenience.
3. They will report back to the team in a timely manner, providing updates as needed.

E. Expectations and responsibilities of members
1. All members will:

1. Arrive promptly.
2. Have read and prepared for meetings prior to the start of the meeting.
3. Turn off or silence cell phones.

2. Chairperson will:

1. Be elected by the team in the fall for a two-year term.
2. Schedule the eight meetings and notify all members.
3. Create the agenda for each meeting.
4. Facilitate and monitor meetings.
5. Establish a professional tone and manage each meeting by adhering to the agenda, as well as starting and ending each meeting in a timely manner.
6. Enforce the provisions set forth in this document.

3. Co-Chairperson will:

1. Be elected by the team in the fall for a two-year term.
2. Facilitate the monthly meetings when the Chairperson is unavailable.
3. Maintain the official SGT records including minutes, agendas, attendance records, and the members’ names, addresses and phone numbers.

4. Secretary will:

1. Be appointed by the Chairperson at each meeting (unless one member has agreed to be a permanent secretary).
2. Keep minutes of the meetings and distribute a draft of those minutes via e-mail or interoffice mail to all SGT members seven days prior to the next meeting.

5. Department representatives will:

1. Be prepared to share issues and concerns regarding their departments.
2. Update the team of the “happenings” in their departments during Roundtable.
3. Notify the Chairperson/Co-Chairperson if they are unable to attend.
4. Remember that they are representing their department, but when making decisions will need to make the decision based on the effect upon the school at large.
5. Conduct themselves in a professional manner during meetings (side conversations and personal anecdotes should be avoided).

F. Decision Making
1. Voting

1. A quorum (50% plus one person) of members must be present in order to make school-wide decisions.
2. In the absence of a quorum, a meeting and discussion will take place to resolve the issue.
3. A vote may be taken when the team does not reach a consensus.
4. A two-thirds majority vote in agreement will suffice.
5. If a two-thirds or greater majority cannot be reached, then the issue will be tabled and redirected to an Ad Hoc committee for further investigation into possible solutions.

2. Emergency Decisions
Emergency decisions that fall within the scope and authority of the SGT and are time-sensitive shall be made by the principal. These decisions may be impacted by legal, contractual, or district procedures and are subject to review.
3. Shared Decision-Making Procedures
The SGT shall:

1. Make decisions that enhance student achievement.
2. Listen to and gather input from stakeholders, including staff, parents, and students.
3. Gather proposals from stakeholders.
4. Identify issues.
5. Prioritize issues.
6. Direct concerns to an Ad Hoc committee.

When the principal dissents from a majority decision, the issue is sent to the Contract Administration Committee (CAC). If the SGT cannot resolve a dispute, the constituency group of the individual stakeholder bringing the issue(s) may refer the dispute in writing to the CAC for resolution. The CAC procedures retain final responsibility for the administration of district schools with the Board of Education, consistent with state law.
4. Conflict Resolution
Methods for resolution:

1. Ending a discussion
2. Calling a 5 minute break
3. Caucusing with individuals/groups
4. Mediation
5. Arbitration
6. Direct unresolved issues to an ad hoc committee for possible solution

G. Process for amending the SGT bylaws

1. The SGT Bylaws will be reviewed and re-evaluated every two years.
2. If there is a concern regarding the bylaws, a representative may request a review or change to the bylaws.